James Blunt - All The Lost Souls (Deluxe Edition)

Certainly a name even the most casual music listener will be familiar with, James Blunt has barely been absent from radio and TV following his breakthrough track 'You're Beautiful' in 2004. Since, things have only gone from strength to strength for the UK singer-songwriter.

Released originally in 2007, this re-release deluxe edition of second album 'All The Lost Souls' has been filled-out with three bonus live recordings and new single 'Love, Love, Love,', as well as a second disc of videos. As the sequel to the 3 million-selling debut, things are as you'd expect - James still penning those hooky, irresistibly catchy and heartfelt songs - the kind that burrow into your brain and never seem to find a way out.

There is a strong homage to 70s soft-rock throughout, particularly on tracks like 'Annie', 'Give Me Some Love' and '1973'. Elsewhere, the Love-influenced 'I Really You Want' or the plucked acoustic guitar strings of 'Same Mistake' are stripped-down, elevating James' husky vocals to full effect, and while he may not be the strongest of singers, Blunt's heartfelt, evocative vocals never fail to touch the right spot.

Even the live songs - 'Breakfast In America', 'Young Folks', 'Cuz I Love You' - show Blunt is as enigmatic on stage as he is in the studio, while no record would be complete without the hair-raising, emotional ballad - in this case 'Carry You Home'.

Criminally overlooked in comparison to younger sibling 'Back To Bedlam', 'All The Lost Souls' is a stronger, more mature and more solid collection than its predecessor. There's no doubt, that James Blunt is one of the most talented songwriters to emerge from the UK in the last decade.